Hyderabad’s weekend landscape has plenty of familiar options, but the city’s rocky terrain and natural rock formations offer another way to spend a few hours outdoors. Some residents are looking beyond the usual walks, games and outings to explore these rocks from a different angle. Hyderabad Times meets some of the city’s climbers to find out what keeps them coming back.‘Techniques come before strength’Climbing does not necessarily begin with peak fitness. Saritha Koganti, 46, started at 38 and says it took time to develop the mindset to continue. “I am not exactly what one would call a fitness freak, but I loved playing different sports for fun. I tried BMX, horse riding and similar activities, but nothing interested me like rock climbing. The first time I tried it, I could only take three steps at a time. It took me an entire year to build my mindset and continue climbing,” she says. Renuka Pechetti, astrophysicist and president of STARCS, says, “It involves more balance and footwork rather than raw strength. Most beginners have to learn the techniques first. Strength comes later.”
The quickest way to become strong in climbing is training indoors because it is a controlled environment. That is something the city lacks. Hyderabad has rocks right within the city, but it still needs more training facilities
– Renuka Pechetti, an astrophysicist and President of Sport Trad and Rock Climbing Society (STARCS)
‘You have to deal with fear and stay calm’Once on the rock, climbing demands more than physical effort. Viswa Teja Polali, 37, who has been climbing for eight years, says the possibility of falling adds another dimension to the sport. “There is an aspect that is absent in most sports, which is fear. You have fear of falling, injury and heights. You have to be in the moment, think about your body positioning and work on your fitness, but you also have to deal with fear and learn to stay calm,” he says. For Hemil Patel, 25, that fear was part of his first climb. “When you start off, you are a little nervous. They guide you on how to get started and make the moves, and you can also learn by watching others climb. You feel a great sense of accomplishment once you climb it, but the fear is real,” he says.
Hyderabad’s rocks are very aggressive and sharp, so you have to be careful because the granite can cut you and burn your skin. But there are hundreds of rocks and routes, giving you plenty of options to climb and explore
– Abhiram Bugata, 27, freelance motion designer
‘Each rock is different’Climbing can also turn a short route into a problem-solving exercise. Ganji Subash Chandra, 46, who has been climbing for two years, says, “In bouldering, we have small routes, six or seven feet high. It involves only four or five moves, but one or two will be challenging. So, that poses a puzzle. You go back home and try to solve it. It takes patience, repetition and perseverance to get the technique right.” Abhiram Bugata, 27, says the unpredictability keeps him interested. “In a gym, when lifting weights, you need to focus on form and power. Here you have to be more agile and mobile. Each rock is different. Even if you climb the same rock for the fourth or fifth time, you may end up doing something different,” he says. “Hyderabad’s rocks are very aggressive and sharp, so you have to be careful because the granite can cut you and burn your skin. But there are hundreds of rocks and routes, giving you plenty of options to climb and explore.”Where to climb around Hyderabad
- Ghar-e-Mubarak
- Durgam Cheruvu- Suraram
- Erdanur
- Mahendra Hills(As told by Renuka Pechetti and Viswa Teja Polali)
- Khajaguda
